Sheet folder and binder



Oct. 22, 1935.

w.` R. HoTHKlss SHEET FOLDER AND 'BINDER Filed Sept. 12, 1932v 4Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1935.

'Filed sept. 12. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 22, 1935.. w. R. Ho'rcHKlssSHEET FOLDER AND BINDER Filed Sept. 12, 1932 .4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 2v2,1935. W, R, HQTCHKlss 2,018,558

SHEET FOLDER AND BINDER Filed Sept. l2, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedOct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This sheet folder and binder is adapted to fold and bind units of sheetstogether in a manner to form a book of folded and secured sheets whichwhen opened to the inside of each unit, extend entirely flat directly upto and through the point of fold.

The machine may be used to bind single sheets to secure the sametogether marginally along one edge, with the adhesive binding beingspaced 1o from the margin to the degree desired. When sheets are thusbound together with this machine, they may be secured so that they maybe opened in book-like form, and in securing the sheets together theyare not pressed into rm contact with each other excepting at the pointwhere the adhesive is applied, so that any printing on the surfacethereof may be comparatively fresh and yet not cause any off-settingfrom one sheet to the other in the operation of my machine.

A feature resides in providing a simple device which may be attached ina suitable manner to a printing press of a character to print sheets andto deliver the same from the printing press onto this device which inturn carries them therethrough folding them into units, and applyingadhesive along one of the marginal edges of the outside of the units anddelivering and pressing the units into a pack which forms the book madeup of the units, which are attached together so that each unit may beopened up with the inside laid out approximately ,perfectly fiat. Mysheet folder and binder is very adaptable for making bank check bookshaving a character which per- 5 mits them to be easily bound together ina peculiar manner so that they open up perfectly flat. In thisconstruction the unit comprises a single sheet which is folded so thatone sheet from the point of fold forms the stub and the other sheet l0is perforated to form one or more checks. The unit sheets are boundtogether by marginally applying an adhesive, after the unit has beenfolded, to one of the outer surfaces of the same, and then squeezing theunits one against the g5 other, building up a pack of units to form thedesired size book.

A particular advantage of my machine is that in making bank checks orthe like, the folding and binding of the units may be rapidly completed5o Without offsetting of the printed surfaces, which permits thismachine to be directly connected to a press for printing checks or thelike, and which will deliver the freshly printed sheets into thismachine which in turn folds and binds the saine intobookform. 'A

A feature resides in the method of printing and then directly securingsheets together in a pack to form a book of sheets. My inventionincludes the method of making books by folding and binding sheetstogether directly after they leave the s printing press. This includesthe method of making a book of sheets bound together consisting incarrying a iiat sheet into a position to be folded therethrough, thenfolding the sheet upon itself forming two sheets integral at the fold,then 10 marginally applying adhesive to one side of one of the sheets,and then carrying the sheets in position to be packed together, applyingpressure to the sheets along the point of the application of theadhesive securing the same in a pack. 15

In the drawings forming part of this specification':

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my sheet folder and binder.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1. 20

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail at one endv of the rollers which coi-operate withthe folding arm to form the sheet.

Figure 5 is a plan detail partly in section of the 25 packing table.

Figure 6 illustrates a sheet opened up which forms one of the units.

Figure 7 illustrates one of the sheets forming the unit folded andshowing the adhesive mar- 30 ginally along one edge thereof.

Figure 8 is a perspective of a book of checks made up by my sheet folderand binder and by my method.

Figure 9 is a section through the binding edges 35 on the line 9--9 ofFigure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional detail oi' a. portion of the packforming mechanism.

Figure 1l is a detail perspective of the packing table.

Figure 12 is a detailed side elevation of the packing table, showing theparts in one position.

Figure 13 is a similar view to Figure 12, showing the parts in anotherposition.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic detail of the ad- 45 hesive applyingstructure of the sheet folderv and binder.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic perspective illustrating the guard on theadhesive feeding wheel.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic illustration in side 50 elevation, of theadhesive applying means and sheet carrier.

Figure 17 illustrates a form of book employing sheets folded to one sideof the center to form pages of unequal size. 55'

My sheetY folder and binder A is formed with a Vframek III which isadapted to be supported by the legs VI I. At one end of the frame Iprovide n a sheet receiving table I2 whichl projects beyond the frame I0proper and which is adapted to be VVsupported by the bracket members I3.

Y The 'table I2 of the sheet folder-.and binder A may be securedin anysuitable manner or asso-Vr ciated with a prnting'press sheet feeder,sheet perforator or any device for delivering sheets to the table I2,which aregnot illustrated in the drawings, but which Vmay be of any typewhere sheets in the fiat formation are delivered from the devicedirectly onto the sheet receiving table I2. The table I2 is formed withadjustable Vsheet guides I4 on either side ofthe same. When the sheetB,V illustrated in its flat formation in Figure 6, is delivered onto thetable I2, it is picked up by the conveyor C and carried into themachcine A between the sides of the frame III. Therconveyor C includesaseries of endless e carrier belts I5 together with suitable means for 50Y24 of the plate I9 it is forced into the positionhiljlustrated inFigure 3, between the rollers which holding the sheet in contact withthe belts I5, such as the Vball tracks I6, which extend over the top ofthe conveyors and the balls of the same rest against the sheet Bholdingthe sheet in contact with the conveyor belts I5. Guide fingers I1 areheld adjustable by thetransverse bar I8 extending across the table I2 sothat the sheets may Y be guided toward the conveyors I5 and under theVball tracks I6. Y

The conveyor C carries the sheet into position on the machine Ak to befolded bythe folding mechanism D. The mechanism D includes the thinfolding plate I9 which is supported on the reciprocating uprightstandard 20 and which is adapted to be moved up and down by the lever 2|which is operated by the cam wheel 272. The

plate I9 engages the sheet VB as it moves directly below the plate.along the creased or scored line '23.The Ascoring 23 through vthe sheetB may be extend longitudinally in the frame I0 and which Y are providedwith engaging cams 26 which extend out slightly beyond the periphery ofthe rollers 25. After the plate I9 has forced the sheetB be- Ato tween'Vthe rollers 25, the rollers are timed so that the cam portions 26 ofeach of the rollers 25 will Vcome into contact with the folded sides ofthe sheet and draw the sheet down between the rollers, 4the cam'surfacespressing against the sheets "only adjacentthe folded edges thereof,dropping Aro . .the sameinto the vertical longitudinal trough 21 whichis supported in a suitable manner in the frame VII) of the machine A.The construction and engagement of the sheet B by the cams 26 which aresupported inthe periphery of the rollers 25, is an important featurevofmy machine AA because by'this means of engaging the sheet YB only at thepoint of fold, the sheet may bedel-i liveredfrom a printing'pressdirectly onto the table I2 and carried by the conveyor C to the rfoldingmechanism D and folded with the printed surface of .theY sheet foldedinward, and` yet `by this means of folding and engaging .the sheet ingthe sheets B directly after they have beenV '5 printed.

The trough 21 extends longitudinally in the frame YIIl below the foldingmechanism D and'is open at the bottom at 28 so that the sheets B mayrest upon the guide plate 29 while they are held upright between thesides of the trough 21.` The lower end of the trough 21 is spaeedfromthe plate 29 and in this space I operate the conveyor pins 30 which arecarried by the chain 3| over suitableY end sprockets. Thus when thesheet B drops into the trough 2'! and onto the plate 29 the pins 30 willengage the same and carry the sheet along the trough 21 toward thepacking table E.

As the sheets B are carried 'along the trough 21 20 on the guide plate29 they are passed by the ad I Yh'esive applying wheel 32` which isformed with a knurled adhesive applying surface 33 and which is adaptedto apply a narrow strip of adhesive Y marginally along the folded edgeof the sheet B.. 2 The guide plate 29 may be adjusted so as to prop Eerly apply the strip of adhesive to the side of the folded sheet B atthe desired point and normally the guide plate 29 is adjusted so thatthe adhe- 'f sive is applied in a strip or ribbon-A-like form@ spacedslightly from the folded edge of the sheet' B, the purpose andadvantages of which will bel more fully hereinafter set forth. Theadhesive is applied in a particular manner by the wheel 32, the knurledsurface 33 of which is supplied 35 with the adhesive from the groove 34formed in v the adhesive feeding wheel 35. The wheel 35 is carried bythe shaft 36 and rotates in the adhesive supply fount 31. The groove 34is recessed into one of the side walls of the wheel 35 Yand the 40surface 33 of the wheel 32 is adapted to extendv into the groove 34 soas to pick up adhesive maferial from the groove 34 and carry it aroundby the knurled applying surface 33 to apply the strip of adhesive in avdefined ribbon-like form 'v engages the edge of the wheel 35. By thismeans .the surface of the wheel 35 is thoroughly cleaned of adhesiveexcepting in the groove 34, then when the wheel 32 contacts in thegroove 34 it picks up sufficient adhesive on its knurledY surface 33 andcarries it in a manner to apply a defined ribbonlike portion of adhesive4IY to the sheet B asY it Y is carried along the trough 21 by the pins35.- After the sheet B has been folded and the strip of adhesive 4I hasbeen applied to the marginal edge of the same, the sheet is carried ontothe packing table E. As the sheet B is carried onto the packing tableErit is adapted to be pressed Y toward the plate 42.Y The plate 42 isheld slidably Y regulate the tension of the plate 42 on the bedplate'43. The sheets B are stacked against thcY plate 42 by thereciprocating packing plate 45 which-is operated by the reciprocatinglever 46 7 ,4

.which in turn is operated by the varms 41 which are connected to thecam wheel 48. The wheel 4S is operated by the internal cam wheel 49which is rotated by the shaft 50. The shaft 59 is driven by suitablegears connecting it with the main drive shaft 5| which extendstransversely in the lower part of the frame IU. The shaft 5I may bedriven by any suitable source of power and is the main drive shaft ofthe machine A.

The packer plate reciprocates between the upright side plates 52 and 53which form the packing box with the plate 42 which also slides betweenthe side plates 52 and 53. The bed plate 43 is formed with longitudinalrecesses 54 which facilitate the mounting of the plate 42 to the bedplate 43 and through, which stop fingers 55 extend to engage against thelower edge of the sheets B as they are packed against the plate 42,holding the sheets in position along the bottom, while short lugs orstops 56 project inwardly from the sides of the plates 52 and 53 to holdthe sheets B at the top. The lingers 55 are mounted upon an operatingarm 51 which is pivoted below the bed plate 43 at 58 and which is formedwith a cam portion 59 so that when the plate 45 is pushed toward theplate 42, the pivoted cam lug 60 carried by the base of the plate 45will engage the cam 59 and drop the fingers 55 down below the uppersurface of the plate 43, permitting a sheet B to be carried by thepacking plate 45 as it leaves the trough 41 and moves onto the table 43and pack the same against the plate 42. As the plate 45 moves backwardaway from the plate 42 the lug 60 will ratchet over the cam 59 which hasalready permitted the ngers 55 to raise above the bed plate 43 to engagethe lower edges of the sheets B. This gives a quick operation of thefingers 55 and holds the sheets B in upright position resting on thefolded or lower edge of the same.

A guiding guard 6I projects forwardly from the side of the plate 45adjacent the end of the trough 21 so as to assist in guiding the sheetsfrom the trough 21 completely onto the table E. The guide guard 6| ispivoted at 62 to the back of the plate 45 and is formed with a cam arm63 which is held against the cam 64 by a suitable coil spring 65, sothat the cam arm 63 normally engages the cam 64 by spring tension. Thecam 64 is mounted on the side of the frame portion 66 which is securedto one end of the bed plate 43. Thus as the plate 45 reciprocates topack the sheets B toward the plate 42, the guide guard 6I will oscillatehorizontally at the receiving end of the plate 45, pushing the sheetsagainst the guide plate 52, thus insuring the proper side register ofthe sheet B against the guide plate 52 before the sheet is engaged bythe plate 45, carrying the same toward the plate 42.

The packing plate 45 is of a particular construction primarily in thatit is provided with a protruding transverse shoulder 61 along the bottomedge of the same. This shoulder has the defined purpose of firmlyengaging against the lower marginal surface of each of the sheets B toforce the same toward the back plate 42. Thus it will be noted as ismore clearly defined in Figure 10, that the shoulder 61 acts to applypacking pressure rmly along the adhesive strip 4| of the sheets B whichtends to cause the sheets to be attached by the Aadhesive strip whenthey are packed one against the other. It will be apparent, however,that the fresh adhesive applied to the sheets B is on the opposite sideof each of the sheets B to that engaged by the shoulder 61 so that asthe sheets enter the packing table E they are forced toward the plate 42in the reciprocating movement of the packing plate 45 and the shoulderpresses the sheets tightly together only along that portion or areadefined by the shoulder 61 and where the adhesive strip 4I has beenapplied. The upper portion of the plate 45 thus acts only as a guide tocarry the sheets back toward each other but not to cause a pressurebetween the upper portion of the sheets as they are packed into books ofchecks on the table E. The advantage of this construction of the packingmechanism E is that the freshly printed sheets Will not offset oneagainst the other even though they are rapidly carried through the sheetfolder and binder A directly from a printing press. This is a materialadvantage in making books of checks.

The beltsl5 of the carrier C are operated by the chain drive 68 whichoperates the counter shaft 69 by means of the chain 10 which rotates thetransverse shaft 1I. The shaft 1l extends across the frame Ill below theupper surface of the belts l5 and carries pulleys which carry the lowerportion of the belts I5 below the lower portion. of the rollers 25 toclear the same.

The transverse shaft 12 is mounted between the sides of the frame I0 andis adapted to carry the cam wheel 22. This shaft is driven by the chain13 from the drive.,shaft 5I. The shaft 12 is adapted to operate theshaft 14 through the gears 15. The shaft 14 supports one of the rollers25 and the adjacent roller is mounted upon a parallelly extending shaft16 while the gears 11 at one end of the shafts 14 and 16, and asillustrated in Figure 4, operate the rollers 25 in unison. The shafts 14and 15 are mounted in suitable bearing blocks 18 supported in the frame19 and with an adjusting screw 80 for one of the blocks and a spacer 8|between the blocks 18, while the other block 18 is held by the adjustingscrew 82 and the coil spring 83, thus mounting one of the rollers 25resiliently in relation to the other roller so that the cam members 26will engage the sheet B by a slight resilient tension as it is carriedbetween the rollers 25.

The machine A has been defined in. its operation to fold a sheet such asB, virtually centrally of the same along the line 23 and these sheets Bmay be perforated transversely at 84 and longitudinally at 85 so as todivide one side 86 of the sheet to form bank checks or similar checks,or memorandum slips which may be readily torn olf or separated, whilethe other side 81 of the sheet may form a stub or record portion of abook of checks F, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. Thus the machine Ais adapted to form a book of folded sheets F which when opened up thesheet portion 86 will lie flat with the stub or memorandum sheet 81. Thesheets B of the book F in their packed formation may be bound by anysuitable .cover means if it is desired, but which is not shown. Themachine A assists in carrying out my method of making a book of checkswhere it is desired to 6 sheets of the book and binding the same intochecks of the desired thickness.

f hereinbefore.

YIf it is desired, the sheets may be folded in the manner illustratedinFigure 17, wherein the line of fold is to one side of the center of thesheet, forming two unequally sized pages. Books may be made in a manneridentical with that outlined A book of this type is practical foruse asa check book where the small pages constitute the stubs, and the largerpages are dividedY to form checks. It is obvious that such a. book mayopen up `flat in the manner of the other books described. Y

' The machine A is equally adaptable to binding single sheets togetherwhich have been printed upon without folding the same, by depositing thesheets into the trough 21 and carrying them to the packing table E asheretofore defined. The operation of the machine A is simple, efficientand uniform, and accomplishes the results defined in an economicalmanner, and better than the sheets could be collected and formed intochecks for a book by hand. The operations are automatic, making itvirtually unnecessary to touch the sheets as they travel through themachine.

The illustrations are in accordance with the patent statutes and showthe principles of operation and particular structure employed to carryout the method and means of accomplishing the results desired in(binding sheets together or foldingand binding the same by a particularmeans wherein one of the advantages is thatV offsetting of freshlyprinted surfaces is obviated, and it is apparent that the structure ofthe machine may be vvaried or applied to uses other than those above setforth within the scope of the following claims remaining within thepurpose and intent of my invention.

- Iclaim: V

1. A sheet folder and binder for forming bank checks including,'acarrier adapted to receive flat sheets, a folder at one end of saidcarrier, means for receiving the sheets from said folder, means forapplying a strip of adhesive marginally to the folded sheet, and meansfor carrying the sheet with the adhesive thereon to a packing meanswhich is adapted to pack the sheets together to form a book of checks,the leaves of which are marginally attached together. Y

2. A sheet binder including, means for automatically carrying the sheetsindividually into position to apply an adhesive, means operable duringthe movement of the sheets for applying 55 vthe adhesive Vmarginallyalong the edge thereof,

means for automatically carrying the sheets with the adhesive thereonfrom the adhesive applying means, and means for pressing the sheetstogether along the applied adhesive. n

V3. `An automatic sheet folder and binder including, means for carryinga sheet into position to be folded, means for folding the sheet, meansWide open position with the open leaves lying Y prising, conveyor meansadapted to carry sheets one after the other, and adhesive applying meansVadapted to apply a strip of adhesive to one side of each sheet, andmeans for collecting the sheets in a pack and simultaneously pressingthem to cause the adhesive to bind the same together.

5. The combination, a conveyor adapted to carry sheets in flatformation, a folder adapted to fold the sheets, a second conveyoradapted to 5 to hold the sheets packed together until the ad- 1o hesivehas set, binding the same into a pack.

6. 'Ihe combination, a conveyor, a sheet folding means associated withsaid conveyor adapted to engage the sheet by cam gripper means, aconveyor for 'carrying the folded sheet away from said 15 folder, andmeans for collecting and binding the sheets together in a. pack.

7. The combination, an automatic'sheet conf veyor, folder and bindingmeans'including, an endless conveyor, means for knocking the sheetsdownv into folded'position from said conveyor, means for applying abinding adhesive Vto the folded sheets, and means for collecting andpressing said folded sheets together with applied pressure over the areaof the applied adhesive only.

8. A device for collecting and binding sheets including, an endlessconveyor adapted to receive the sheets, means for knocking thesheets'down through said conveyor, means for simultaneously gripping thesheet as it is knocked down to fold the same, means for applying a stripof adhesive marginally along one side of the folded sheet, and means forconveying the folded sheets with adhesive applied thereto into a packand pressing the same together more particularly over the area of theapplied adhesive.

9. An automatic sheet folder and binder including, an endless conveyoradapted to receive and carry the sheets into position to be folded,

a pusher folding plate, means for operating said 0VV Yplate to fold thesheets carried by said conveyor,

roller means associated with said Vpusher plate Y having cam grippingfaces to grip the sheetV adjacent the point of fold and permit theremainder of the folded sheet to pass freely throughsaid roller means,and means for collectingV said folded sheets and binding the samemarginally.

v10. In combination, a conveyor for folded sheets,` an Vadhesiveapplying device for applying adhesive over a portion of said sheets, andpressposite the glued portion to secure the sheets together.

11. In combination, an adhesive applying device for applying adhesiveover an area on one side of sheets, a conveyor for conveying the ,sheetswith adhesive thereon, and pressing means the J approximate shape of thefolded sheets having a G0 raised portion approximating the area of theVglued surface engageable with the sheet opposite the glued areato pressthe 'sheet into engagement with other sheets. Y

12. In combination, a gluing device for sheets, means for conveying thesheets past said gluing device to obtain a strip of glue thereupon, andmeans for pressing each sheet into engagement with other sheets to forma book of sheets.

13. A sheet binder includingroiding means engaging a sheet only closelyadjacent to the line of fold, means forconveying said sheets from saidfolding means, and means for binding said conveyed sheets together.

14. The method of making a book of printed sheets consisting in foldingthe sheets with the printed surface inside, applying a strip of adhesiveadjacent the folded edge of the sheets While said sheet is maintained inloosely folded position, and pressing said folded sheets together onlyadjacent the fold While said sheets are retained in loosely foldedposition.

15. The method of making a book of printed sheets consisting in looselyfolding the sheets by engaging the same only adjacent the fold, to folda printed surface inside, applying a strip of adhesive adjacent thefolded edge while said sheets are maintained in loosely folded position,collecting the sheets together, and pressing said sheets togetheradjacent the fold to adhere said sheets together, said sheets beingmaintained in loosely folded position.

WILLIAM ROY HOTCHKISS.

